Pastor joins local church

Wednesday

Oct 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Shawna Jankoviak Staff Writer, @sjankoviakCDT @sjankoviak

A new associate pastor has joined St. Thomas Lutheran Church.
Associate Pastor Zack Nelson and his wife, Julia, are being welcomed to the community after he was ordained this past Sunday, Sept. 29. At age 8, he joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and was baptized with his two brothers.
“I can say that I (remember my Baptism)” Nelson said with a smile.
He later moved to Hastings, Minn., where his family made their home and joined the St. Philips Lutheran Church, where he was confirmed.
Nelson said his grandfather, Lester Nelson, was a pastor in the Evangelical Free Church. His mother grew up in the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.
His field of studies in high school and college focused on anthropology, history and archeology. Nelson particularly enjoyed history and languages as subjects.
He attended seminary from the summer of 2009 to May of 2013. That included three years of coursework at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. and one year of internship at St. Philip's Lutheran Church in Hastings, Minn., which was his sponsoring congregation.
Nelson said he knew he wanted to be a pastor because of his family and friends.
“It was a strong family influence, together with the support and encouragement from friends, classmates and Pr. Doug Paulson of Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota Duluth,” Nelson said. “I am excited about the creative freedom that comes with being a pastor.”
He said he is eager to serve.
“I am looking forward particularly to working with the Parish Education Committee as we think about what 'faith formation' means for us … as a congregation, and as a community,” Nelson said. “I think difficulties and challenges will be navigating my creative freedom as I discover 'what is my place?' in this church and this community, as well as the responsibilities of the position and recognizing different people's expectations. In short, I hope to learn what it means to be an associate pastor at St. Thomas Lutheran Church.”
Nelson said he met his wife at a “Financial Sustainability for Seminarians” workshop at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. She also worked evenings at the information desk at Luther Seminary, often when Nelson was working with the Campus Watch team. They were married on July 2, 2011.
He said his favorite Bible story is Genesis 32. In his wrestling with God, Jacob is given a “new identity” in the story, Nelson noted.
Nelson's wife, Julia, is a Diacanol Ministry Candidate within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Diacanol ministers are consecrated to serve in ministries that are at the intersection of church and world.
“My ministry is a 'specialized ministry' — my interests lie in children, youth and family ministry, specifically 'Spirit-led hospitality,' which revolves around learning to serve and be hospitable as the Spirit moves us,” Julia said.
She said she is also a wedding coordinator and Zumba instructor.
Nelson and his wife have collectively visited 17 countries. They would like to travel to France in the near future, and they also enjoy the outdoors and camping.
Nelson was ordained on Sunday, Sept. 29 at St. Philips Lutheran Church in Hastings, Minn.
Parishioners can welcome Nelson to the community during Sunday morning worship at 8 a.m and 10:30 a.m. and Sunday morning Christian education at 9:15 a.m. St. Thomas Lutheran Church is located at 332 N. Western Ave. and can be reached by calling 627-3167.
Kimberly Smith contributed to this report.

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